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Here and There on the Turf Need for Drinking Water. Rough Biding at Belmont. Those Chicago Plans. Realization Prospects. While most of the arrangements for the first of the International races at Belmont Park Labor Day were ideal, there was serious omission in taking care of the comfort of the vast crowd. It was in the matter of drinking water. The supply was utterly inadequate and it was the one thing that occasioned no end of complaint. The fact that it was a day that was oppressively hot made this a doubly serious oversight. It is to be hoped that the Queens County Jockey Club will profit by the mistake that was made by the Westchester Association and see to it that the crowd should have all the drinking water nesded. The expensa of installing water coolers is a small matter when it is weighed in the comfort that is afforded. Unfortunately the New York race courses have at no time been adequately supplied with drinking water for the patrons and, at times, when there are so many first time visitors to the races, it is imperative that they have the best impression of the sport that is possible. The regulars have long since ceased to complain of the lack of drinking water and have put " up with the inconvenience with proverbial good humor, but it is not the same with the casual racegoer. He does not understand why there should not be all the water needed and there is no good reason why there should not be an abundance. It is not right that a price should be charged for water on the race track. The water is just as csssntial to the comfort of patrons as various other accommodations that arc insisted upon by the health laws. Now is the time to see to it that there will be none of the complaints that were heard on all sides at Belmont Park on Labor Day. This is a matter that cannot be passed over lightly and it is a cheap, short-sighted policy to deny the public a generous abundance of water and, naturally, of free water. There was a bit of rough riding at Belmont Park Tuesday that brought the suspension of two jockeys and another that escaped punishment. Ivan Parke and B. Breuning were the boys that were set down and the horse that met the interference that brought no punishment was Maddenstown, ridden by "Chick" Lang. All of this should not be and the stewards can hardly be too strict in seeing to it that the riders have a proper regard for the rights of others in a race. Parke and Breuning were guilty of crowding Maibcn, on Venus, in the third race at a time when the Thornby filly appeared to have a winning chance. It might be argued that Maiben invited the interference when he attempted to send the filly through on the inside when coming from behind, but it appeared that the other two did not come over on him until ha was so far up in that dangerous spot that he had to snatch his mount up sharply to avoid going over the fence. That, to say the least, was unfair and not in strict accordance with the rules, for, while the leading horse can pick his course, he must be clear of the others before altering that course. In the case of Maddenstown it was the interference alone that cost him the race. "Chick" Lang has been accused frequently of being a bit timid in close quarters, but he appeared to have been palpably fouled. With Earl Sande lying in a hospital nursing a broken leg there should be every effort exerted by the stewards to see to it that there is not a like disaster. Incidentally Benny Mari-nelli, the rider held responsible for the roughing that put Sande in the hospital, has been restored to good standing. To say the least, Marinelli is particularly lucky and other iiders are still on the ground for lesser offenses committed many seasons ago. Joseph A. Murphy has had something to say of the future plans for racing at Chicago. Not so long ago Mr. Murphy was strong for legislative action that would make possible the conduct of the sport under the pari-mutuel system of wagering that has met with such success in Kentucky, Maryland and Canada, but now that idea has been abandoned. By this it does not mean that Mr. Murphy is less strong for such a law, but it has been decided not to go before the legislature with a bill that would make such a scheme possible. On various occasions it has been an excellent policy to let well enough alone and doubtless this is the position of Mr. Murphy and his associates. The meeting recently closed at Hawthorne was a success beyond the fondest hopes without tha help of legislation and there is every reason to expect that other meetings would be even more successful. It is an excellent thing for the turf when it is possible to have a state control of racing, always provided that it does not mix too intimately in politics. It is a big thing for the sport and it is a big thing for the state. The track is secure from vicious attacks of meddlesome so-called reformers, while the state receives a big revenue from the sport that in all sections where the law has prevailed has been an immense help in public works. No matter what the system under which the sport is conducted, what is of paramount importance is its cloanliness. Just so long as it is kept free from reproach it h secure and it is the fact that the racing was conducted along such lines that made possible the Hawthorne success. Another thing that must ever be guarded against vigilantly is the establishment of too many tracks. There must be no racing merely for revenue. It must continue a sport in all that sport means and it is only as a sport that it will endure anywhere. The next big three-year-old race to be offered at Belmont Park is the Lawrence Realization Stakes, to be run Saturday. So much has been said about the International race3 that little attention has been paid to the regular stake races of the current season, but the Realization Stakes has always been one of the greatest of the three-year-old races. It is over the trying mile and five-eighths distance. It is at scale weight and an ideal race to decide the championship. For the coming renewal the prospects are not as bright as they were earlier in the year, but it ought to be a worthy race. H. G. Fishers Mr. Mutt, by his brilliant victory over My Play in the Saratoga Cup, takes a front place in consideration of the possible outcome of the funning Saturday. The son of Ballot and Eden Hall is a rare long-route traveller, and Gordon seems to have him right at the . top of his form. Mad Play, winner of the Belmont Stakes,, seems to have gone back, taking a line through his showing in the Manhattan Handicap, when he was so soundly beaten by Sarazen and Cherry Pie. But Aga Khan is a possibility, though Mr. Mutt beat him at Saratoga. This colt likes a long route and he may show to better advantage at Belmont Park. Hildreth also has Stanwix to fall back on if he decides that Mad Play does not measure up to the task. He also has Bracadale, winner of the Withers Stakes, and it is safe to predict that the green and while will be shown in the field. Gifford A. Cochran will probably ba repre sentcd by Sun Flag, and the Middb Neck Farm Stable of Julius Flekchmann will depend on that plodder, Thorndale. Klondyke seems to be the logical choice to bear the II. P. Whitney colors. Unfortunately for Frederick Burton, Wise Counsellor, conqueror of Epinard, is not an eligible, but, altogether, there seems to be material enough for a good field and a field in which no one colt stands out prominently over the others.
